Speculation that N.Y. attorney Miles Prentice's effort
to acquire the Royals "is bogging down" came to fruition
Thursday with sources saying MLB owners "won't approve
Prentice's ownership group because it's too big," according
to Charles Crumpley of the K.C. STAR. Sources stated that
Prentice's group, which bid $75M for the team and includes
over 40 investors, "will have to be pared down to get
approved." But Prentice and Royals President Mike Herman
said they were "mystified" by the claim, noting that the
group's size "has not been a great issue" during their
negotiations with the league. AL President Gene Budig
called the speculation "erroneous" (K.C. STAR, 5/7).
TOO MANY COOKS: The AP cites a "high-ranking" MLB exec
expressing concern over the size of the group. The official
also said that "it is highly unlikely" the sale of the
Royals will be voted on at the MLB owners' meeting June 9-10
in Pittsburgh. Another MLB official said that Prentice's
group "may need to raise more money." Prentice: "In the
long run, the size of our group and the composition of our
group, will be the strength of our group" (AP, 5/7).
MILES IS THE MAN? In K.C., Joe Posnanski supports
Prentice under the header, "Talk Is Cheap, Prentice Bid For
Royals Isn't." Posnanski, on Prentice: "The man has been
jumping through hoops for two years. He has harvested local
money. He loves baseball" (K.C. STAR, 5/7).
